Rush Limbaugh is under attack for the “phony soldiers” remark he made on his radio program. That statement started controversy over whether he was slamming members of the military who disagree with the Iraq War or not. As a listener to the Limbaugh program, I was shocked to hear the spin on what Limbaugh said. “Say it ain’t so.” It turns out after reading the transcripts from the show and knowing Limbaugh as a radio personality, I have concluded for myself, “it ain’t so.”

I know Limbaugh is an ardent supporter of the military. The troops also know this based on the recognitions and awards they have given him, like the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Award in 2003 and the flag he was presented from Operation Iraqi Freedom by members of the U.S. Air Force.

Limbaugh even made a trip to Afghanistan in 2005. “America’s Anchorman” is steadfast in his admiration and respect for those who serve. Limbaugh couldn’t have been referring to soldiers who served in Iraq but disagreed with the war as “phony” because it would be against who Limbaugh is.

Several times in programs leading up to the Sept. 26 incident, Limbaugh made references to an actual “phony soldier” named Jesse Macbeth, who posed as an army ranger and claimed to have served overseas and even received medals for that service. His accounts of atrocities U.S. military personnel carried out against Iraqi civilians that he witnessed were widely distributed. In reality Jesse never made it through basic training. He was a phony soldier. Should I get in trouble for “castigating our soldiers,” as Senator Harry Reid said Limbaugh did, for calling something what it is?

“But,” I hear you thinking, “Jesse Macbeth would be a singular phony soldier and Limbaugh said ‘soldiers.’” There are plural, phony soldiers, who have been prosecuted across the country in an investigation by the Office of Veterans Affairs called “Operation Stolen Valor.”

Fake soldiers are caught when they apply for veteran benefits they are not entitled to and others are found out when they make claims like Macbeth’s. U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Sullivan of the Western District of Washington said in a Sept. 21 quote from the District Attorney’s Office, “Macbeth’s lies fueled hostility to our servicemen in Iraq and here at home. Those who falsely claim medals for heroism cheapen the recognition of our true war heroes.” That is the real crime here.

This whole thing has been a costly waste of time on Capitol Hill as Reid, and others like him, takes up time on the Senate floor bashing Limbaugh instead of doing anything productive. I’ll leave it to Limbaugh to defend himself: “I have never impugned any military person who’s retired or active duty, in or out of uniform, for their service to this country. Yet that is the lie and the smear that is taking place, of all places now, on the floor of the United States Senate.

Again, I want to apologize today to all of you in the United States military, active duty and retired for this smear. I am not apologizing for myself, I’m apologizing for all of these groups who are undertaking efforts to demoralize you. You all are the real heroes. Your work is being besmirched and impugned and several in this country are seeking the defeat of you and your mission. We will not let it happen” (from his Oct. 2 show). That’s the “loveable fuzz ball” I know.

Now there is a movement to shut Limbaugh down. He isn’t popular with the entire political spectrum, but the last time I checked we have freedom of speech that makes room for discourse. Love him or hate him, taking Rush off the air would be a trespass on free speech. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said in a 1929 court ruling, “The principle of free thought is not free thought for those who agree with us but freedom for the thought we hate.”

There is no reason anyone should hate Limbaugh’s “phony soldier” comment since it was referring to real outrageous phony soldiers, not honorable veterans from the Iraqi conflict who don’t support the war. This witch hunt is obviously an underhanded attempt to snuff out a controversial voice that bothers certain political figures and organizations because Limbaugh calls them out. It won’t succeed because no one can kill a viewpoint and also because Limbaugh has the support of his network and more importantly a vast and dedicated audience who won’t stand for it. I say, “Rock on Rush!” I hope even if you don’t agree with what he says you’ll see why it is important that he is allowed to say it.